Plastic waste exports in Greece
Greece: Plastic waste exports was 63,644 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Greece, 1988–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Greece recorded 63,644 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 81.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Greece peaked at 63,644 tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2022.
That places Greece 13th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Greece, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0.26 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 128.62 tonnes | +49369.2% |
| 1990 | 576.58 tonnes | +348.3% |
| 1992 | 353.68 tonnes | -38.7% |
| 1993 | 526.38 tonnes | +48.8% |
| 1994 | 1,016 tonnes | +93.0% |
| 1995 | 632.67 tonnes | -37.7% |
| 1996 | 669.97 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 605.62 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 1,022 tonnes | +68.7% |
| 1999 | 1,001 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 1,185 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 1,302 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 1,427 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 3,290 tonnes | +130.5% |
| 2004 | 8,150 tonnes | +147.7% |
| 2005 | 5,669 tonnes | -30.4% |
| 2006 | 7,182 tonnes | +26.7% |
| 2007 | 10,928 tonnes | +52.1% |
| 2008 | 13,919 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 2009 | 40,080 tonnes | +187.9% |
| 2010 | 50,016 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2011 | 46,694 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 38,965 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 2013 | 29,842 tonnes | -23.4% |
| 2014 | 35,022 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 2015 | 37,832 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 42,863 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2017 | 52,760 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 2018 | 53,006 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 52,936 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 53,394 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 58,883 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2024 | 63,644 tonnes | — |
Greece compared with similar countries
- Greece's 63,644 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 13.9× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Greece's 63,644 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 8.8× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Greece changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +49369.2% | 0.26 tonnes | 128.62 tonnes |
| 1990 | +348.3% | 128.62 tonnes | 576.58 tonnes |
| 2009 | +187.9% | 13,919 tonnes | 40,080 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 64.44 tonnes | 0.26 tonnes | 128.62 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 711.6 tonnes | 353.68 tonnes | 1,022 tonnes | 9 |
| 2000s | 9,313 tonnes | 1,185 tonnes | 40,080 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,994 tonnes | 29,842 tonnes | 53,006 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 35,184 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 63,644 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Greece
More environment data for Greece
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.43 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.43 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.95 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Greece?
- Plastic waste exports in Greece was 63,644 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Greece?
- The highest recorded value was 63,644 tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Greece?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2022.
- How does Greece rank for plastic waste exports?
- Greece ranks 13th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Greece?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greece data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.